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Community Group Pasta

Community Group Pasta

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with Chicken, Broccoli, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Cream Sauce 😊

Yield: 4 Servings
Scott Nowell

Circa 1994: This started as a church potluck meal, and it still works well 30 years later. It also makes a nice, simple family meal.
Updated to describe the version served at 28-Sep-23 Community Group.
You can use your imagination on this and replace the chicken with shrimp, sausage or beef. Also any pasta and vegetables can be used. Just be sure to barely cook it to al dente so it doesn’t get too soft in the assembly.

Chicken:

  • 2TBS cooking oil, divided
  • 1lb chicken breasts, boneless skinless
  • salt & freshly ground pepper
  • 1-2tsp Italian seasoning
  • 8oz Rotini, Penne, etc.
  • 8oz broccoli, small florets

Assembly:

  • 2TBS garlic, minced
  • 1cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes, oil reserved
  • 2TBS oil from sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1-2TBS butter
  • ½cup reserved pasta cooking liquid
  • 1cup heavy cream
  • 1-2tsp dried basil or Italian seasoning
  • ½cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • salt & pepper
  • 1TBS Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped

For serving:

  • Parmesan cheese shredded


Cook broccoli and pasta:

Bring one gallon of water to boil in a large pot. Add 1 TBS salt and broccoli. Cook until starting to soften (about 2 minutes), remove to a bowl of ice water with a spider.

Return water to a boil and add pasta. Cook until just al dente, a minute or two less than manufacturer’s directions. Reserve a cup of the starchy cooking water, then drain and set pasta aside.

Cook chicken:

While the pasta is cooking, cut the chicken into bite sized pieces. Season chicken with salt and pepper and a good sprinkle of Italian seasoning. Be generous.

Heat a TBS each of reserved sun-dried tomato oil and cooking oil until hot in large sauté pan. Add the chicken and sauté until cooked through. About 2-3 minutes. You should get some nicely browned pieces. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.

Assembly:

Return empty pasta pot to medium heat, add a TBS each of reserved sun-dried tomato oil and cooking oil. Add 2 TBS of minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and basil or Italian seasoning, stir and sauté for another 30 seconds.

Add ½ cup reserved pasta cooking liquid and cooked chicken to pan and cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.

Return pasta and broccoli to pot. Mix.

Add cream and 1-2 TBS butter. Mix and heat until hot and pasta is well coated. You can add more pasta cooking water if needed.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve:
Transfer to a serving dish and top with parsley.

Serve with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.

We served this with a tossed green salad with Italian dressing and Cheesecake Factory dark bread, followed by Hermit Cookies with vanilla ice cream.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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Yield: 2

Adapted from many
  • 8oz Brussels sprouts
  • olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Adjust oven rack to upper position, and preheat oven to 450°F.

Trim the sprouts and add to a lined rimmed baking sheet. Mix with a big drizzle of olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn the sprouts cut side down.

Roast in oven until tender and deeply browned, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Serve immediately.

Stuffed Squid with Rice & Herbs

Stuffed Squid with Rice & Herbs

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Yield: 4

The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cookbook by Amy Riolo

You’ll love this light, healthful version of calamari, with flavors straight from the Aegean Islands. The tender texture of the baby squid in this unique dish lends itself to a straightforward cooking style. You may also cook full-size squid this way, but you will need to increase the filling quantities and cooking time.

  • 2TBS olive oil, divided
  • 1small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1lb spinach, fresh
  • ¼cup short grain rice
  • 2TBS parsley freshly chopped
  • 2TBS dill freshly chopped
  • 1tsp sea salt or salt &pepper
  • dash of crushed red chili flakes
  • 1lb baby squid, cleaned and tentacles separated
  • 2cups vegetable or seafood stock

Heat 1 TBS of olive oil in a large wide skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes.

Add the spinach, rice, parsley, dill, salt, pepper, and red chili flakes and cook for 1 minute. Take the mixture off the heat and allow it to cool slightly.

Stuff the baby squid three-quarters of the way full of stuffing. Secure the top with a toothpick, leaving a little bit of room between the toothpick and the top of the stuffing for the rice to expand while cooking.

Heat the remaining olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Brown the squid on all sides.

Add the stock, cover, and simmer on low until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender to the bite and the squid are cooked through. Season the tentacles and add after the 10 minute mark.

Serve with bread such as ciabatta or focaccia.

Chicken with Basil-Pecorino Cream Sauce

Chicken with Basil-Pecorino Cream Sauce

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and Roasted Red Potatoes

Yield: 2 Servings

Adapted from: Home Chef

A tender chicken breast, topped with a creamy basil sauce infused with sharp pecorino cheese, served next to roasted red potatoes, shallot, and fresh red bell pepper.

  • 12oz red potatoes
  • 1red bell pepper
  • 1shallot
  • 13oz boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2TBS basil pesto
  • 4oz light cream
  • 1oz pecorino cheese
  • olive oil
  • salt & pepper
  • cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400°F.

If using any fresh produce, thoroughly rinse and pat dry.

Prepare a baking sheet with foil and cooking spray.

Prepare the Ingredients

Cut each potato into six to eight wedges.

Stem, seed, remove ribs, and cut red bell pepper into 1″ dice.

Peel and slice shallot into ¼” rounds.

Pat chicken breasts dry, and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Begin the Vegetables

Toss potatoes, red bell pepper, shallot, 1 tsp olive oil, season with salt and pepper on prepared baking sheet. Spread into a single layer, leaving room to add chicken later (some overlap is ok). Roast in hot oven until vegetables begin to soften and caramelize on edges, 20 minutes. Remove from oven.

Vegetables will finish cooking in a later step.

While vegetables roast, sear chicken.

Sear the Chicken

Place a medium non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tsp olive oil and chicken to hot pan and cook until browned, 2-3 minutes per side. After vegetables have roasted 20 minutes, carefully stir on their own side. Transfer chicken to empty space on baking sheet. Reserve pan: no need to wipe clean.

Finish the Chicken and Vegetables

Top chicken with 2 tsp basil pesto (reserve remaining for sauce). Roast until pesto darkens slightly and chicken reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165°F, 10-12 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate and rest at least 5 minutes. While chicken rests, make sauce.

Make Sauce and Finish the Dish

Return pan used to sear chicken to medium-high heat. Add cream to hot pan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from burner. Stir in remaining basil pesto and â…” of the pecorino (reserve remaining for garnish). Taste, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper if desired.

Serve:

Divide chicken and vegetables between plates and top chicken with sauce and garnish with remaining pecorino.

Smothered & Stuffed Meatloaves

Smothered & Stuffed Meatloaves

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with Potato Wedges

Yield: 2

Adapted from: EveryPlate.com

Meatloaves, personal-sized treasures bursting with melty pepper jack (no cheese on Gayle’s) and adorned with caramelized peppers and onions.

Notes: Since Gayle didn’t want cheese, I put a whole egg in the top of hers. Cooked for the whole time, she said the egg was overdone, but loved the dish. I didn’t like the glaze on top of the meatloaves. I don’t care for tomato glaze on meatloaf.
Prep: 10 Cook: 35

  • 12oz potatoes
  • 1green bell pepper
  • 1onion
  • 1TBS fry seasoning
  • 1slice white bread
  • 8oz ground beef
  • 8oz shredded pepper jack
  • 1TBS Dijon mustard
  • salt & pepper
  • 3TBS ketchup
  • 2tsp brown sugar
  • 2tsp cooking oil
  • 1TBS butter

Prep:

Adjust racks to top and middle positions and preheat oven to 425°F. Wash and dry produce.

Cut potatoes into ½-inch-thick wedges.

Halve, core, and thinly slice bell pepper into strips.

Halve, peel, and thinly slice the onion.

In a small bowl, combine 1 TBS mustard, 3 TBS ketchup, and 2 tsp brown sugar. (If you don’t have brown sugar, swap in 1 tsp white sugar.)

Roast potatoes:

Toss potatoes on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, 1 tsp Fry Seasoning, (you’ll use the rest in the next step), salt, and pepper. Roast on top rack until browned and tender, 20-25 minutes.

Form meatloaves:

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, soak bread with 2 TBS water, break up with your hands until pasty. Add beef, remaining Fry Seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper, mix to combine. Flatten meatloaf mixture into two ½-inch-thick rounds. Reserve half the cheese for topping, divide remaining cheese between centers of each round.

Note: No cheese on Gayle’s meatloaf. I cracked a fresh egg into the hole that was filled with cheese on mine.

Fold edges of meat around cheese, shaping and sealing to create 1-inch-tall loaves. Place on a second baking sheet, brush tops with ketchup glaze. Bake on middle rack for 15 minutes. Note: I think the meatloaf and the egg were done at this point. I went for another 5 minutes since the egg was wobbly.

Cook veggies:

While meatloaves bake, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper and onion, cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, 7- to 8-minutes.

Add 2 TBS water, cook, stirring, until water has evaporated, and veggies are tender. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in 1 TBS butter until melted. Turn off heat, cover to keep warm.

Top meatloaves:

Once meatloaves have baked 15 minutes, remove sheet from oven. Carefully sprinkle tops with reserved cheese. Return sheet to middle rack until meatloaves are cooked through (160°F) and cheese melts, 3- to 5-minutes more. (probably not necessary).

Serve:

Divide meatloaves and potatoes between plates. Top meatloaves with veggies.

Fry Seasoning

1 TBS

  • 1½tsp garlic powder
  • 1½tsp onion powder
  • 1½tsp paprika
Creamy Chicken Chowder

Creamy Chicken Chowder

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with poblano and crispy tortillas

Yield: 2 Servings

Adapted from: Home Chef

Diced chicken combined with sweet corn and feisty poblano, then simmered in cream to achieve a delightful soup. Topped with cheese and crunchy tortilla strips. Add bacon, sausage or shrimp as an option.

  • 1medium/small yellow onion
  • 1poblano pepper
  • 3oz corn kernels
  • 1lime
  • 12oz diced boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1TBS chili and cumin rub
  • 4oz light cream
  • 2tsp chicken base
  • 1oz shredded Oaxacan cheese
  • ½oz tortilla strips
  • olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Options:

  • 4strips bacon
  • 4oz pork, andouille, or kielbasa sausage links, sliced
  • 8oz shrimp

Prepare the ingredients:

Halve and peel onion. Cut halves into ¼” dice. Stem poblano pepper, seed, and cut into ½” dice. Wash hands and cutting board after prepping. Quarter lime. Pat diced chicken dry, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Sear the chicken:

Place a medium pot over medium-high heat and add 1 tsp olive oil. Add chicken to hot pot and stir occasionally until browned on two sides, 4-6 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Chicken will finish cooking in a later step. Reserve pot, no need to wipe clean.

Start the chowder:

Return pot used to sear chicken to medium heat and add 2 tsp olive oil. Add onion and poblano (reduce quantity if spice-averse) to hot pot and stir often until vegetables are slightly softened, 3-5 minutes. Stir in corn and seasoning rub until combined.

Options:

If using bacon, sausage or shrimp, line a plate with a paper towel. Place a medium non-stick pan over medium heat and add bacon, sausage slices or shrimp to hot pan. Flip occasionally until cooked, 6-8 minutes (3-4 for shrimp). Transfer to towel-lined plate. When cool enough to handle bacon, crumble.

Stir half of the options into finished chowder and reserve the other half for garnish.

Finish the chowder:

Add chicken and any accumulated juices, ½ cup water, cream, and chicken base to pot. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, stir occasionally until slightly thickened and chicken reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165°F, 5-7 minutes. For a thinner texture, stir in additional water 1 TBS at a time until desired texture is reached. Remove from burner. Season with a pinch of pepper.

Finish the dish:

Divide between bowls, garnishing chowder with remaining half of optional protein, cheese, and tortilla strips. Squeeze lime wedges over to taste.

Farmhouse Fried Chicken

Farmhouse Fried Chicken

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with mashed potatoes, green onion gravy, and corn

Yield: 2 Servings

Adapted from: Home Chef

Fried chicken with creamy green onion gravy, accompanied by mashed potatoes and sweet corn.

  • 1½TBS butter
  • 4oz light cream
  • 2green onions
  • 2russet potatoes
  • 6oz canola oil
  • 13oz boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ½cup Chicken Breading
  • 1TBS plus 3 tsp mayonnaise
  • 3oz corn kernels
  • olive oil
  • butter
  • salt & pepper

Make the Mashed Potatoes

Cut potatoes into ½” pieces. Bring a small pot with potato pieces and enough salted water to cover by one inch to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until fork-tender, 12-15 minutes. Reserve ½ cup potato cooking liquid. Drain potatoes in a colander and return to pot.

Add half the butter, ¼ the cream (reserve remaining of each for gravy), ½ tsp olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Mash until desired consistency is reached. Add potato cooking liquid to thin if needed. Cover and set aside. While potato cooks, prepare ingredients.

Prepare the Ingredients

Trim and thinly slice green onions at an angle.

Pat chicken breasts dry, and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Heat canola oil in a medium pan over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Combine mayonnaise and 2 tsp water in a mixing bowl.

Place chicken breading in another mixing bowl.

Dip one chicken breast in mayonnaise-water mixture, then coat completely in chicken breading, shaking off any excess. Repeat with second chicken breast.

Fry the Chicken

Line a plate with a paper towel. Test oil temperature by adding a pinch of chicken breading to it. It should sizzle gently. If it browns immediately, turn heat down and let oil cool. If it doesn’t brown, increase heat.

Lay chicken breasts away from you in hot oil and flip every 3-5 minutes until golden brown and chicken reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165°F, 10-14 minutes.

Transfer chicken to towel-lined plate. Rest at least 5 minutes. While the chicken rests, cook corn.

Cook the Corn

Place another small pot over medium heat. Add 1 tsp olive oil and a TBS of butter to hot pot. When foaming stops, add corn and stir occasionally until warmed through, 4-5 minutes. Remove corn to dish and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Wipe pot clean and reserve.

Make Gravy and Finish Dish

Return pot used to cook corn to medium heat.

Add green onions (reserve a pinch for garnish) and remaining cream and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, stir often until slightly thickened, 3-5 minutes.

Remove from burner and swirl in remaining butter. Season with a pinch of pepper.

Slice chicken into ½” slices.

Serve:

Divide chicken, potatoes and corn between plates.

Pour gravy over chicken and garnish potatoes with reserved green onions.

Marsala Mushroom Chicken Skillet

Marsala Mushroom Chicken Skillet

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with Broccoli and Peas

Yield: 2 Servings

Chicken & mushrooms with a creamy Marsala sauce mixed with broccoli and peas served with pasta.

Needed more sauce, so all of the sauce ingredients below are now doubled.

  • 6oz noodles
  • 6oz cremini mushrooms
  • 1shallot
  • 6oz broccoli florets
  • 12oz boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1TBS flour
  • 6oz dry Marsala wine
  • 8oz light cream
  • 2tsp chicken Better than Bouillon
  • 2oz peas
  • olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Prepare the Ingredients:

Cut mushrooms into ¼-inch slices.

Peel and halve shallot. Slice thinly.

Cut broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces.

Pat chicken breasts dry and, on a separate cutting board, cut into 1″ dice. Season with ¼ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Place diced chicken and flour in a mixing bowl and toss to coat.

Noodles:

Bring a gallon of water to a boil. Add 1 TBS salt, stir and add noodles. Cook as directed on box.

Sear the Chicken:

Place a medium non-stick pan over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add chicken to hot pan and stir occasionally until seared on two sides, 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Chicken will finish cooking in a later step. Keep pan over medium-high heat.

Cook the Vegetables

Add 2 tsp olive oil, mushrooms, and shallot to hot pan and stir occasionally until lightly browned, 2-4 minutes.

Add Marsala and stir occasionally until mostly evaporated, 2-3 minutes.

Stir in cream, broccoli, 2 oz water, demi-glace, ¼ tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper until combined.

Finish the Skillet

Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pan. Bring to a simmer. Once simmering, stir occasionally until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and chicken reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165°F, 6-7 minutes.

Add peas and stir until warmed through, 1 minute.

Serve:

You can mix the pasta into the skillet and get it all coated or serve over the pasta. Divide between plates.

Japanese Steak Bento Bowl

Japanese Steak Bento Bowl

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with Rice, Broccoli, and Roasted Peanuts

Yield: 2 Servings

Adapted from: Home Chef

Meal-in-a-box seems like a relatively new creation, but not so: before meal-kits, lunch boxes, and frozen dinners, the Japanese had bento boxes. The bento box originates in the 12th-13th century, as a way for Japanese workers to take food to work. We’ll stop the history lesson here, even though the flavors of this bento-inspired dish speak for themselves. Steak strips in garlic sauce and sweet mirin sit atop rice with fresh carrots and broccoli. Add some peanuts for a salty crunch, and red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, and you’ve got a meal-in-a-box that’s a bowlful of joy. Tip: To peel the carrot with less effort, lay it down on your cutting board peel one half, rolling it as you peel. (Be sure to peel in a motion away from you!)

  • 8oz garlic sesame sauce
  • 12oz broccoli florets
  • 20oz steak strips
  • ¼tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1tsp cornstarch
  • 1tsp seasoned salt blend
  • 2oz roasted peanuts
  • 2TBS mirin
  • 1½cups jasmine rice
  • 16oz carrot
  • olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Cook the Rice

Bring a medium pot with rice, 3 cups water, and ¼ tsp salt to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until rice is tender, 18-20 minutes. Remove from burner and set aside covered. While rice cooks, prepare ingredients.

Prepare the Ingredients

Cut broccoli into bite-sized pieces, if necessary. Coarsely chop peanuts. Peel, trim, and cut carrot into ¼” slices on an angle. In a mixing bowl, combine cornstarch and 2 tsp water until dissolved. Separate steak strips into a single layer and pat dry. Season all over with seasoned salt and a pinch of pepper.

Cook the Steak Strips

Place a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat and add 2 tsp olive oil. Working in batches, if necessary, add steak strips to hot pan and stir occasionally until no pink remains, 5-7 minutes. Transfer steak strips to a plate. Keep pan over medium-high heat.

Cook the Vegetables

Return pan used to cook steak strips to medium-high heat and add 2 tsp olive oil. Add carrot and a pinch of salt and pepper to hot pan. Stir often until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Add ¼ cup water, and cover. Cook until water is mostly evaporated, and carrots are tender, 3-5 minutes. Transfer carrot to a plate. Keep pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tsp olive oil, broccoli, and a pinch of salt and pepper to hot pan. Stir occasionally until tender and lightly browned, 5-7 minutes.

Finish the Dish

Stir cornstarch mixture to recombine Add cornstarch mixture, carrots, steak strips and any accumulated juices, garlic sesame sauce, and mirin to pan. Stir until steak strips and vegetables are lightly glazed, 1-2 minutes. Remove from burner. Plate dish as pictured on front of card, topping rice with steak strips and vegetables and garnishing with peanuts and red pepper flakes (to taste). Bon appétit.

Cajun Blackened Chicken & Rice Bowls

Cajun Blackened Chicken & Rice Bowls

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with Spicy Crema

Yield: 2

Adapted from: Hello Fresh

Blackened chicken with savory veggies on top of scallion-flecked rice, all finished with a drizzle of spicy crema. Note: add pre-cooked Andouille sausage into this rice for an all-in-one dish
Prep: 10 Cook: 40

  • 12oz chicken breasts
  • 8oz Andouille sausage, pre-cooked (optional)
  • 1carrot
  • 1Roma tomato
  • 1oz chicken stock concentrate
  • 1tsp hot sauce
  • 1long green pepper
  • 1TBS blackening spice
  • 3celery
  • 2scallions
  • ½cup jasmine rice
  • 4TBS sour cream
  • salt & pepper
  • 1TBS olive oil
  • 1TBS butter

Cook rice:

Adjust racks to middle and top positions and preheat oven to 425°F. Wash and dry produce.

Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens. Melt 1 TBS butter in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add scallion whites and rice and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in chicken stock concentrate and ¾ cup water. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender, 15 minutes. Turn off heat, and keep covered until ready to serve.

Cook chicken:

Meanwhile, pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season all over with salt, pepper, and half the Blackening Spice. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat (use a nonstick pan if you have one). Add chicken and sear until browned, 2- to 4-minutes per side. Turn off heat, transfer to a baking sheet. Bake on top rack until cooked through, 7-10 minutes. Wipe out pan.

Prep:

Wash and dry all produce. Core, de-seed, and dice green pepper into ½-inch pieces. Dice celery into ½-inch pieces. Trim, peel, and dice carrot into ¼-inch pieces. Dice tomato.

Cook veggies:

Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in pan used for chicken over medium-high heat. Add green pepper, celery, and carrot. Cook until slightly softened, 4- to 5-minutes. Add tomato, remaining Blackening Spice, salt, and pepper and Andouille. Cook until softened and tender, 3-5 minutes more.

Tip: If veggies begin to stick, stir in a splash of water.

Make spicy crema and finish rice:

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine sour cream, hot sauce (to taste), and a pinch of salt. Stir in water, 1 tsp at a time, until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency.

Stir rice into pan with veggies and Andouille. Season with salt and pepper (to taste).

Finish and serve:

Transfer chicken to a cutting board, then slice crosswise. Divide rice mixture between bowls. Top with sliced chicken and drizzle with spicy crema. Garnish with scallion greens. Top with any remaining hot sauce, if desired.

Blackening Spice Blend

  • 3tsp smoked paprika
  • 1½tsp garlic powder
  • ½tsp white pepper
  • ½tsp black pepper
  • ¼tsp thyme
  • ¼tsp oregano
  • â…›tsp low heat cayenne